By Jonathan Amanatidis, Senior Residence Advisor

The next time you’re at the grocery store, wondering what sounds good for dinner, consider the following top five reasons to go vegetarian (or at least cut down on your meat consumption) today!

1. Watch your Wallet: Tofu, beans, nuts, and meat alternative products are way cheaper than meat, meaning you can spend more money on all those other things that are kind of important in life – like rent, tuition, or that new iPad your parents won’t buy for you.

2. A Healthier, Happier You: A vegetarian diet is great for your health! According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure than meat-eaters. Vegetarians are also, on average, up to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters!

3. Vegetarian Food Is Delicious: So you’re worried that if you go vegetarian, you’ll have to give up hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and ice cream? You won’t. As the demand for vegetarian food skyrockets, companies are coming out with more and more delicious meat and dairy product alternatives that taste like the real thing but are much healthier.

4. Save the Planet: Eating meat is one of the worst things that you can do for the Earth; it’s wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution, and the meat industry is one of the biggest causes of global warming. Adopting a vegetarian diet is more important than switching to a “greener” car in the fight against global warming.

5. Look Sexy and Be Sexy: Vegetarians tend to be thinner than meat-eaters and have more energy, which is perfect for late night romps with your special someone. (Guys: The cholesterol and saturated animal fat in meat, eggs, and dairy products don’t just clog the arteries to your heart; over time, they impede blood flow to other vital organs as well.)

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